Indian Society is a unified system of numerous groups of diverse identities based on language, ethnicity, culture, class, caste, religion etc. However, its differentiation into these diverse groups has resulted into a hierarchical system of multiple shades wherein some groups are placed at the upper end of the ladder and others at the nether end. Added to this highly entrenched system of stratification gender plays an important role to augment the inequalities. The whole pecking order has brought into existence the hegemonic domination of a few over the mass of others, erecting barriers of denial. This limits and restricts the social, political, economic, educational, health and other opportunities of the deprived and marginalized sections of the society. The situation of social inequalities warrants redemption which can be realized through Equal Opportunity policies and measures.
The Equal Opportunity Cell of Assam University was created in March 2011 by a mandate of the UGC, specifying the need of a functionary within the university, to ensure equal opportunity through affirmative action for all those who come from the excluded sections within its folds.
The Equal Opportunity Cell primarily orients its activities around training and development programmes for the students in order to provide them with supplementary academic support in the form of remedial coaching. Furthermore, the Cell intends to conduct sensitization and awareness programmes related to a wide range of activity areas such as Gender Issues, Human Development, Human Rights, Environment and Livelihood Security, Participatory Development, Inclusion of Marginalized Groups, Peace and Conflict Resolution etc. The Cell is striving to create an atmosphere of Equal Opportunity through awareness generation programmes among the deprived students and their communities; to provide auxiliary support towards skill development and enhancing employability of the students; to tailor development and sensitization programmes to meet the distinct needs of the students and to expedite legal redressal in matters of violation of equal opportunity among the students
The Cell is organized into a team, comprising a Coordinator and an Advisory Committee constituted by the university authority. The Coordinator of the Cell is responsible to take care of all the day-to-day affairs, arrange meetings of the Advisory Committee and implement various programmes. The Advisory Committee is to decide policies and guideline for working of the Cell. Presently the Cell consists of the following:
Coordinator
Professor G. Ram
Advisory Committee
- 1. Professor A Rasak T, Chairman
- 2. Dr Arup Barman, Member
- 3. Dr Ratna Huirem, Member
- 4. Ms D Mary Kim Haokip, Member
- 5. Dr Arunjyoti Nath, Member
- 6. Dr Raju Mandal, Member
- 7. Dr Mahan Borah, Member
